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Sunday, January 20, 2008

This is the snow we received yesterday. We were scheduled to received anywhere up to about 4 inches of snow. Luckily (in my opinion) we only received a dusting. It snowed what I call "polite" snow, only on the grass and other surfaces, nothing on the road. Now this can melt and we can continue on with life.I did make some really good soup yesterday. I just purchased Alice Water's The Art of SimpleFoods and made up some soup with turkey stock I had frozen from Thanksgiving and a little chicken stock and some home canned tomatoes and onions, garlic, rosemary, corn, lima beans, peas, carrots and green beans and a little chicken. This is basically a soup I grew up on we always called "Granny Soup" for my mom. And then for dinner I pan seared some salmon in butter and pepper and had a salad of mixed lettuces and tomatoes.Of course, I filled in this "good" food with a trip to the bakery in town, which knows my oldest daughter quite well. I got a White Chocolate Moose Rock, which is a wonderful pastry of white cake, a white chocolate mousse and covered in a chocolate ganache. I ate half and am saving the other half for today.And in between eating bouts, I did accompany Oldest Daughter to the grocery store to get her rice and beef weiners she wanted (don't ask) in the snow with the dog. Did I clean house...no. Did I do laundry....no. I read. Ann Bishop. Fantasy. Hate her. Great books, so all you want to do is read to find out the ending.So my plans are to maybe do a little laundry, a little cleaning in the computer room and make some tangerine marmalade as I have a ton of tangerines that need to be used. And say goodbye to Trumpet Princess as she is suppose to move in with her dad today.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Despite recent events, I have 2 very good girls. This, however, is not one of them. This is one of my "adopted" daughters, my oldest daughter's, Savvy, best friend Poogles. (They all have nicknames for each other.)

Savvy recently had an assignment in English to write an essay and she choose to write about her friend, Poogles. She got a 100 on the paper and it was so well written, and frankly, I wish I could friend something to eloquent about my best friend or have someone write something this nice about me.

I have to share what she wrote........

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POOGLES

I call her Poogles. Poogles, a name that when called through a crowd receives confused looks and strange expressions. It's such an odd, silly name for such a serious girl. The name Poogles came from a sound, a way she spoke one day. It was a high, gurgling voice that makes me laugh whenever I can pressure her into speaking it. Poogles, a silly name for a silly sound. Her real name is Leslie. I have known Leslie since I first moved from rural Sampson County to urban Apex.

She was my first friend in the city. The very first. You see, she rode the same bus as me so it was on the way to school that I met her. She was reading a Tamora Pierce book, the same authoress of the book I was readying when I met her. We both noticed the similarities between us. Both of us were lanky, little 7th graders with glasses perched on the ends of our noses. Messy brown hair sticking up and out of our hair ties. Both of us had a book perched on our laps. It was as if fate herself made us meet each other's eyes from across the aisle of the bus.

Leslie, just hearing her name calms me down and helps me get through the day. She is my pillar, my rational mind. She's the hand that stops me from walking into a street and into a car. She's the voice that warns me of the consequences. She's my partner in crime and my fellow adventurer. She's the sister I wish I had. She's always been there for me. Whenever I'm sick she risks a visit to cheer me up. Whenever I need help she is the first to lend her hand. When I do good she's one of the first to praise me, but should I do bad she's the very first to call me stupid. She's always the first. The one that seems to know the second I fall down so she can help me up.

After my family life went straight to hell, she was the one I could cry to. Where I have to be strong for others, she enables me to be weak. She knows my most vulnerable stare and my deepest secrets. She's the mother for when I'm a child. That doesn't mean she can't be a little childish sometimes, she does have her weak points. She's naturally argumentative. She's bossy and controlling. She's so proper sometimes it's almost borderline prudish. However, for all her bad qualities her good one's outshine them.

She's my friend and sister. She's my shoulder angel and inner demon. She's the hand that holds me up and her fist that knocks me down. We've always been there for each other and will always be there forever. She's my heart. She's my Leslie. She's my Poogles.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

I enjoy Earthenwood Beads blog and keep and eye on her beautiful creations. In late December she had a contest to giveaway 3 sets of her beads. I dutifully entered, not really expecting to win. I WON!

And these are the beads and I already have a ton of ideas on how to use them.

What is really great, even better than the beads themselves, it that on the day when my youngest was missing, I received notification I had won.

Ray of sunshine in the darkness.

Then on the day I actually received the beads, youngest (who had returned by then) and I had a blow-up and I sat in the grass in the very back of my yard, fondling the beads which I just got out of the mail box and cried. They were so beautiful and my life seemed so ugly right then. Really made me feel less of a failure at life, or at least motherhood, and that someone out there liked me.

So see, there is always hope.

See the 2 small square and 1 oval in the aqua color. I have a design in mind for them to find some pale blue seaglass and a couple of small pearls and string them on clear or white filament. I want it to be light and airy looking, having the oval hang down in the middle. As I slowly get things made with them I will post them here.

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Ok, I know I have started walking to/from work for various reasons, mainly health. However, I did not anticipate the reactions I would get from friends and co-workers...a disbelieving "you walked?"I figured if I lived further north and east, commuting, at least partially under foot power would not be unusual. It seems we have gotten a little spoiled with the "leave from your front door and park at the front door at work".So, here are some of the reasons I am walking more now....1. My health. I am 5'10" and turned 50 in September and weighed 237 pounds at the time. I am still 5'10" and still 50, but in that length of time, I am now down to 216, mainly from watching what I eat. Now I am adding exercise which this body is not use to, being areader/writer/knitter/needleworker/tv watcher person. My goal, to get below 200 bythe end of 2008.2. I only loose about 30 minutes in each direction each day walking to/from work. Yes, Icould have started a load of wash or dishes, but mainly that is time I would have probablycome home and napped, and now with more energy from walking, I am less in need of anap in the afternoons.3. GAS! At $3.00 plus, even when I don't make long trips anywhere, I am filling up about every 10 days or so to the tune of $40.00. If I walk, then I find myself only filling up 1 time a month. That's a few $$$$ that I'm saving, not to mention the wear and tear on the car and the environment.4. Planning. I weigh my trips out more and combine trips or cut out trips entirely.5. Mentally......it has helped so much with my depression to get out and walk. Not only is my physical health improving, but so is my mental health. Stepping briskly along, listening to my favorite podcasts, noticing the trees are starting to bloom, the air-be it cold or warm, all does a lot for me.So, yes, I walked all the way to work and back. It's just under 2.5 miles in each direction. It takes me about 45 minutes to go one way. Yes, I'm going to do it in all weather except rain....going to work wet is just too much. My goal is 100 miles a month, so by the end of the year I would have walked 1200 miles, or a little over 1/2 the Appalachian Trail. Come walk with me!

Monday, January 07, 2008

Today's affirmation is actually a page I did a few days ago and tied on my tyvek beads at the bottom of the page. This is a journal I am devoting entirely to visual journaling. The spread is entitled "Today I Played". I gave myself permission to get out paints and images and cut things out of old magazines and PLAY. I painted the backgrounds for 3 pages for a journal swap which I have since finished up and will take pictures of shortly and post about my intentions for 2008. But with all the "seriousness" of daily life I think you have to give yourself permission to not do what you are "suppose" to be doing and do want you want to do.

I have walked almost 15 miles (officially) since January 1, so a little over 2 miles a day and that's while on vacation. Only 85 more miles by the end of the month.....hopefully.

The weather today turned summer-like. The 20's last week during the day, the 70's this week. And I am not sick why?

Despite upset with Trumpet Princess, I am maintaining "no more blackness", so hopefully we will all pull through intact.

So I have walked today, 5 miles, I have racked some leaves that are still in my yard and blogged. So this evening will be spent finishing up a couple of pages and hopefully doing some writing.

Sunday, January 06, 2008

I haven't given it to her obviously and it is very blurry, but this is a bracelet I created for BF birthday. There is also a pair of earrings to go with it.

Please note it is pinned onto an old dress form I will be using for the Ren Faire costumes I have to sew up.

But the bracelet was fun to create. I made some charms out of shrink plastic, drilled holes in some shells (because she loves the sea) and collected or created charms which represent different aspects of her and/or our friendship. There is even a big jingle bell so she will remember to go through life making a joyful noise rather than just being there.

I made 2 other bracelets for myself. One is a charm bracelet with bottle caps on it and the other is beads and a lot of polymer clay pieces I drilled holes in and strung on there.

If nothing else we'll make a lot of noise when we wear them and isn't that what life's about.So far, in 6 days, I have walked almost 7 miles. Pretty good being on vacation and with all that has been going on. My goal is to get 100 miles in the month, so will be stepping up the activity level. I wonder what an evening of playing on the Wii counts for?

Saturday, January 05, 2008

"I AM" is what the pink says. However, it almost looks like "I AW" or rather "I AWE" which works also. When I look at all the things I do/am during the day, it makes me tired sometimes and makes me energized others.

I am identifying myself as a writer and artist now. Primarily, I am a mother. I am also a woman, wage-earner, airline reservationist, cook, bottle washer, laundress, seamstress and handy woman.

I am also a creator, a knitter, a reader and gardener. Dog-walker and pet feeder.

Friday, January 04, 2008

She came home yesterday afternoon. She supposedly wandered around town for the past 24 hours. As cold as she was I suppose at least part of it is true. But the hard part is about to start. The why she did it (she doesn't like being yelled at) and addressing problems therein.So a lot of aspirin in my future, but I still refuse to let this get me back into the "black" and will keep moving forward into the light.This is an affirmation I created a few weeks ago. It seems appropriate for today to help me move forward.

Thursday, January 03, 2008

This is an affirmation which I drew a couple of days ago as part of the daily affirmation I am trying to do with Patricia Mosca here. I have suffered from depression for quite a while now and am emerging on the other side and am doing much, much better now.

So due some minor stuff recently, I created this affirmation, saying regardless of what happens, I will not allow the blackness to take over and rule.

Then my Trumpet Princess decides to leave home with "someone" she met online. At 14 years old. This is the 2nd time, the last time being almost 1 year ago (February 2007).

So while I am praying and hoping and searching for her to get her home safely, I still will not allow the blackness to take over. But for my sake, her's and Eldest Daughter. Despite how I have failed in some way and this has happened again. The Blackness will not win.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Yesterday was a GREAT day actually. VBF and hubby and I drove to Pisgah Covered Bridge which is in the middle of winding roads and trees. It is no longer actually used, but sits beside the "adjusted" road and new bridge, which is not covered. We got out and walked around it and down to the water in the creek. They have a great little trail down and over the creek and back to the bridge.

It was cool, but bright and sunny and we were the only ones there. It was nice to walk in the quiet of the woods and enjoy the trees . Hopefully with VBF and I walking more we will be able to enjoy more walks like this.

This is the start of the pathway around at the bridge. It is a very nice trail, especially for something in the middle of no where.

As you can see, it was a clear, sunny day, just right for a walk in the woods.

This little stairway leads to up and over the creek. The creek. With recent rains it was actually "bubbling" over the rocks in places.

We also stopped by Jumping Off Rock and took a look at the river/creek going by there. It was lovely. I can't wait to see it in different seasons. And with the recent rains, the mosses and lichens were bright and vivid greens and blue grays.

And to round off the day, we ate lunch at the Ellerbe Springs Inn. My first time there. Great down home cooking in a Victorian style bed and breakfast.

So if this is the first day of 2008 and sets the tone for the rest of the year, it should be a great year.

Hopefully, since I am off today, I will scan in some things I have drawn for the daily affirmations and get a couple of journal pages done in my visual journal.

AND 3 years ago yesterday I started this blog. There were huge gaps in posting in the past as I struggled with depression. Hopefully, that is behind me and I have come through on the other side. But it seems weird....THREE YEARS!

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

I can't believe another year has passed already. But I feel I am on my way already to hopefully, successfully fulfilling some of my "intentions" for the coming year.

Yesterday I "played". I walked up to the post office with Noel and picked up some priority mail envelopes to use for the tyvek beads I have been wanting to try for some time now. With the help of Trumpet Princess, I splashed Luminere paints over it, but it up and rolled and heated.

Yes, there are some fumes involved, but if you are baking a chocolate cake, you never notice! And I wound them around a piece of wire clothes hanger rather than a wooden skewer to make the hole smaller. Some I wrapped with metallic threads. I plan on hanging them off a journal page. I also heated up a larger piece of paper to see what would happen and came up with a pretty interesting piece. I still have 2 81/2 x 11 pieces. Somehow I think at least part of these will end up on pages for a journal page swap I have joined at "A Girl and her Journal". I have an idea for a visual journal page. Right now (and will have to decide in the next few minutes, I can't decide whether to continue in my current journal or to start a new "visual" journal....probably go with a new journal for the visual stuff.

Waiting to see if friends and I are going to make it to the covered bridge and little walk associated with it. If not, then I will take Noel on a walk later today. Suppose to be in the mid 50's today and then in the 30's with a chance of a little snow flurries tomorrow. Not that anything will stick or last, but maybe it will be enough to get Trumpet Princess out of the "snow" mood.

Speaking of the girls, ha, ha, I get to stay at home for the rest of the week starting tomorrow and they have to go to school! I'm on vacation! I'm going to set up the sewing machine in front of the TV and sew and watch "stuff". And play in my journal and walk some and nibble on chocolate cake!

About Me

Retiring after 34 years in the airline industry, I found myself in Montana with my youngest daughter and a new grand daughter. Then came the oldest daughter and her partner, buying us a house for us all to live in. Then came the house fire and now we are rearranging our lives and planning a move back to North Carolina in 2018. So it will be 5 years of Zone 4 gardening before I get back to my Zone 7 comfort zone.